Biotechnology

Discover the structure and function of cell membranes by launching cargo molecules at a virtual cell. Apply your learning back in the lab to improve the health of synthetic cells that the lead researcher wants to use to produce insulin.

Learn about the concepts of antibodies and antigens, as well as the ABO and Rhesus blood grouping systems and their importance in blood transfusions. Then, you will help a young couple determine a potential risk for Rhesus disease in their unborn child.

The Carbohydrates Lab explores how carbohydrates are broken down by the digestive system and taken up into the bloodstream.

Find out what it’s like to work in a cell culture laboratory. Learn how to use the aseptic technique to avoid contamination of your cells, and discover what it takes to keep them alive.

Explore different cell samples under the microscope to identify the differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Build the structure of an animal cell and choose the internal organelles of four specialized cells.

Join this virtual confocal microscopy lab and learn how to take pin-sharp confocal micrographs and 3D renderings. Use the knowledge to save your uncle’s crop from a mysterious plant disease.

Learn the techniques and application of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Gel Electrophoresis. Explore a real-world application, such as analyzing unique genetic fingerprints to solve a murder case.

Help a scientist detect and quantify proteins by using one of the most popular techniques in molecular biology.

Discover Next Generation Sequencing by analyzing the mRNA from pig tissues and identify a new gene linked to obesity. Confirm your results using qPCR to analyze the expression levels of your gene!

Open your eyes to the vast potential of gene regulation, where you can reprogram cells into any cell that fits your needs. Will you able to help the doctor in restoring the sight of a visually impaired girl?

Investigate why the Kuppelfangs died when transplanted to the new Astakos IV biodome on Earth. Quantify their realized and fundamental niche, and explore how acclimation affects the boundaries of a niche.

Learn the different steps of sample preparation, sequencing, data collection and data analysis using next generation sequencing technique.

Relevant pigments using different solvents and measure their absorbance spectra to help a group of engineers figure out if a mysterious dark algae is able to absorb green light. Your work will help create a sustainable plan for energy production that will use sunlight, heat from a coal power plant, and nutrients from a fish farm.

Learn how to extract RNA from pig fat tissue samples and how to purify messenger RNA using magnetic beads.

Join cutting edge research at MIT and design a biological circuit that can sense and destroy cancer cells.

Join your fantastic lab guide Dr. One in preparing a tricky aqueous solution of ammonium chloride using an analytical balance, which your colleagues need for an important analysis.

Build your own spectrophotometer to measure the absorbance of a reaction product on Mars!

Help a microbiologist prepare a pure culture that can be used to identify a microbe causing an infection! Use good aseptic technique to avoid contamination of the sample, ensure your own safety, and avoid surprise fires in the lab.

Solve a crime by using DNA fingerprinting to identify a thief. Use nucleic acid gel electrophoresis to separate and visualize DNA molecules and watch an animation to understand what happens inside the gel tank.

Embark on a mission to identify the metabolic pathway that produces an antimalarial compound in a rare plant. Can you begin the process of creating a novel antimalarial drug?

Build your own spectrophotometer to discover how you can measure substances with light

Perform a western blot experiment to ultimately provide data and knowledge to identify a promising treatment for breast cancer. Investigate the connection between blood vessel growth and cancer development, by understanding signal transduction.

Join lab assistant Marie to find out how to decide on the correct laboratory practice and personal protective equipment when dealing with hazardous chemicals. Learn the meaning of the hazard symbols and apply your knowledge with some example chemicals.

Explore the structure of proteins and learn about the synthesis process inside the cells.

Join Dr. One and two colleagues on their mission to cure cancer. They are using Western blot to compare the level of p53 protein in cancerous and healthy control cells. Can you help Dr. One with the tricky membrane transfer step?

Investigate Alcohol Flush Syndrome by studying Alcohol Dehydrogenase kinetics. Learn how to use a spectrophotometer, perform an enzyme kinetics experiment, analyze data and understand different inhibition mechanisms.

Dive into recombinant DNA technology with cell division, transcription and translation. Includes concepts in restriction enzymes, cloning and reporter genes.

Analyze the microscopic structure of the small intestine and learn the advantages and limitations of light, fluorescence and electron microscopy.

Explore the structure of proteins and learn about the synthesis process inside the cells. Examine the protein sequence to understand the differences of protein synthesis in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.